大象传媒

This week of programmes looks at Handel鈥檚 life and work during an important decade of his life. The 1730s saw Handel create some of his best-loved works, but also saw him fall out with singers and patrons in London, endure a stroke and attendant poor mental health, and mourn the death of one of his chief supporters, Queen Caroline.

In this episode, Donald Macleod explores how Handel鈥檚 career survived the threat posed by the rival Opera of the Nobility, and with the opera Alcina, he had an instant success, vanquishing his opponents with 18 initial performances. He was back. And he was occasionally in a more conciliatory mood, writing the opera Atalanta to celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Wales, gambling that it might win back his support. Also during this time Handel introduced the concept of the organ concerto, during performances of his oratorios.

Opera: Alcina, HWV 34
Ombre pallide
Ren茅e Fleming, soprano (Alcina)
Les Arts Florissants
William Christie, conductor

Oratorio: Alexander鈥檚 Feast, HWV 75
Air and Chorus: Bacchus, ever fair and young
Chorus: The many rend the skies
Michael George, bass
The Sixteen
Symphony of Harmony and Invention
Harry Christophers, conductor

Concerto in B flat major, Op. 4 No. 6, HWV 294
Stephen Stubbs, lute
Andrew Lawrence-King, harp
Erin Headley, lirone
The Sixteen
Symphony of Harmony and Invention
Harry Christophers, conductor

Organ Concerto in G minor, Op. 4 No. 1, HWV 289
I. Larghetto e staccato
IV. Andante
Richard Egarr, organ
Academy of Ancient Music

Opera: Atalanta, HWV 35
Aria: Lassa! ch'io t'ho perduta (Act 2)
Katalin Farkas, soprano (Atalanta)
Capella Savaria
Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Produced by Iain Chambers